Tooth-brush.



APPLICATION HLE D DEC-2, 1912.

E. e. HUBBE L. TOOTH BRUSH.

Patented May 4, 1915 W \W V 7 wa'znessesx IAN EDGAR G: HUBBEII, OFWINTHROIE, EASSACHUSE'ITS;

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To all whom it may concern.

Be it'known' that I, EDGAR G. HUBBEIJ, 'a citizen'of the United States,residing at Winthrop, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,have invented a certain new and. useful Improvement. in Tooth-Brushes,which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accomner,

panyingdrawings.

. The invention relates to the class of toothbrushes in which thebristle-block is removably combined with the handle;

It is an improvement upon the brush of U. S. Letters Patent No.1,013,089 granted to me under date of December 26, 1911.

- The invention provides an improved backing or cover for thebristle-block, combines the former with the latter in improved manandprovides novel means of securing the backing or cover in workingposition whereby the removal and replacement of the same, convenientlyand quickly, are facilitated.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, in whichlatter,-

Figure l is a side View of a tooth-brush con-' taining the saidembodiment, on an enlarged scale, partly in section and with a portionof the handle broken out to reduce the length of the handle.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan vlew thereof, also with a portion of the handlein section and another portion broken out. Fig. 3 is a bottom view ofthe backing or cover, and Fig. 4 is an end-view thereof. Figr5 is a viewin vertical cross-section in the plane of line 5, 5, Fig. 1.

'Referring to the drawings,the handle is marked 1, the bristle-block ismarked 2,

' block,

and the bristles are marked 3. As in the patent mentioned, thebristle-block is removably combined with the handle by means of aprojection 7 upon one end of the bristlewhich is entered into a socketin one end of the handle, substantially as shown. Preferably, the partsare secured together by threading the said projection and the innersurface of the wall of said socket, and screwing the projection into thesocket. The wiring by which the tufts of bristles are held in place inthe holes therefor in the bristle-block is marked 6'in Fig. 1. At 13,13, are the longitudinal slits or slots which extend vertically throughthe bristle-block to facilitate cleaning the bristles.

The backing or cover is marked 4. It extends over the upper surface ofthe bristle- Specific ation of Iietters Patent.

Patented May 4; i9i5;

Application filed December 2, 1912. Serial nog'zsmss.

block and conceals the holes occupied by the tufts of bristles, theupper ends of said tufts, and the tuft-securing means. It is formed withslits or slots 14, 14, registering with those formed in thebristle-block.

In accordance with the present invention I form the backing or cover 4with a plain depending flange 4*, so that when the bristleblock andcover have been assembled together the backing or cally the entirebristle-block, and the edge cover incloses practiof the latter is almostcompletely concealed my the saidvflange. In the present instance thesaid flange is vertical, and fits a "correspondingly formed upperportion of the edg flange of the backing or cover incloses the 'lateral'shoulders at the butt-end of the bristle-block, the inturned ends 4 4",of

the said flange being separated just far enough to receive between themthe screwthreaded stem 7 of the bristle-block. When the handle andbristle-block are screwed together, the adjacent end of j the handleabuts upon and covers and conceals these ends of the flange.Consequently said ends cannot scratch the mouth of the user of thebrush.

The lower portion 2?, of the bristle-block projects outward relative tothe lower edge of the flange 4", as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, so asto-provide a shoulder which conceals and protectssaid edge, which makesclose contact with the upper surface or shoulder of the said projectingportion or lip 2. 1

The backing or cover is engaged with the tip-end of the bristle-block,so as to hold the tip-portions of the two in proper relations, by meansof a pin, 2", Fig.1, projecting from the tip-end of the bristle-blockand entering a hole, 4, Figs. 3 and 4, in the corresponding portion ofthe flange. The backing or cover is furnished at its butt-end with alug, 4 Figs. 1, 2 and3, projecting horizontally therefrom between theends 4", flange. This lug lies close against the flattened uppersurface-of the bristle-block, and enters the chamber or socket in thehandle together with the stem,

so that when the handle is screwed up' 4 of the e of the bristleblock.-The vertical stem 7 of the ment with the lug to hold the butt-end of thebacking or cover from rising. The backing or cover may readily bedetached from the bristle-block after the handle has been unscrewedsuiiiciently to uncover the lug. This permits elfective'cleansing, etc,of the upper practical, and the bristle-block and backing or cover arecapable of being manufactured with great facility and at small cost.Since the main portion of the bristle-block is in closed and concealedby the backing or cover, the expense of finishing, etc, the same torender it presentable and attractive is 1 saved. This is an importantitem, in View of the fact that the bristle-block is to be discarded assoon as its bristles get in poor condition through use, and a fresh onesubstituted.

While the invention is more especially designed as an improvement intoothbrushes, it is not necessarily restricted in its application solelyto brushes for tooth-cleaning'puroses. 2 5 What is claimed as theinvention is,.-

1. In a brush, in combination, a bristleblock having a projecting stemand a verti- Qtical flange which embraces said vertical edge of thebristle-block, with the lower edge of said flange concealed andprotected by said projecting flange or shoulder, said backing or coverhaving a lug, and a handle having a socket in which said stem and lugare removabl received and secured.

2. In ahrushfinoombination, abristle-b-lock having a projecting stem anda plain outer edge with an outwardly projecting flange forming ashoulder, a backlng or cover having a plain flange which embraces'saidplain outer edge of the bristle-block, with its lower edge concealed andprotected by the said shoulder, said backing or cover having a lug,means engaging the said backing or coverto hold the same in place uponthe bristleblock, and a handle engaging said stem and lug to combine andconnect the parts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR G. HUBBEL. Witnesses:

' NATHAN B. DAY,

CHAs. F. RANDALL.

